Friday 17 January 2014

5 Minute Friday: Encouragement






1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.

Every Friday I try to take part in Lisa-Jo Baker's five minute Friday.

We get together to write about a prompt given. This week's prompt is 

Encouragement…

GO

A man builds a house with bricks and mortar. Brick for brick he creates something out of nothing. He creates a home. A secure place where a person or family can grow without fear.
Just as he builds, so do we, as mothers, as teachers, as women, as people. Our words affect those around us in either a positive way or a negative way. 



I see the results of my words every day reflected in the faces of my 22 babies... the 22 little people who have been entrusted to my care and my tutelage by their parents. I see the hurt on their faces when my words are less than they should be, and I see the glow of pride or joy when the words are what they need to hear. So often it is easy to use my words as weapons instead of encouragement. To speak to their weakness instead of to their strengths. 






 

This is my daily challenge. To be a builder in their lives. Building a strong home where they can feel secure and confident in their skins, instead of fearful and nervous to speak. To bite back the harsh words and rephrase any criticism into something they can build on and grow from.
Words are so important. I need to count mine carefully.

STOP 

4 comments:

  1. That is a challenge, and a wonderful blessing all wrapped up into one. To build a character, or rather to assist in that building in some part. Wonderful.

    Marissa
    http://raysofgraceandjoy.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I appreciate you stopping by Marissa. It is so hard sometimes to remember that things I say or do build a person... but yes. A real blessing :)

      Delete
  2. Such an opportunity you have! Reminds me of this verse:
    "The wise woman builds her house,
    But the foolish pulls it down with her hands." Proverbs 14:1
    Thank you for shaping lives.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for coming over Tresta. And for the verse... xx

      Delete